? UNDER THE LAMPLIGHT-

Is there such a thing as freewill? The author, Robert Sapolsky, of Determined: AScience of Life without FreeWill, would like to argue that there isn’t. Diving deep into science and philosophy, he develops the case against our agency and decision making.

One by one, he disarms each standard argument against freewill, and he uses complex science, philosophical theory, and chaos to do it.The book is sure to leave you rethinking everything you know.

Life without freewill… The author finds that there are consequences for his conclusion. For example, no one can ever truly be at “fault” for something if they didn’t make the choice to do it, could they? He uses demonic possession to explain the concept. For years seizures were a sign of supernatural activity, and yet, now we know that no person is to blame for their ailments.

What does this mean for life? Well, Sapolsky opens up a discussion on punishment, morality, and harmony with others. In a world without judgment, much of our current structures would need to be redefined. That transition will be difficult, he admits, but he argues that it will allow for a more humane world.

If you want to expand on your existential dread, Sapolsky has another book you can turn to titled Behave published in 2017. In that earlier book, he analyzes why people do good and why they do bad and blends the discussion into one of physics and chemistry coupled with human behavior — which makes Determined a sort of extension of this endeavor.

You can purchase the book on Amazon.

Tags: